A one step synthesis of the 8-methyl-, 8-ethyl -and 8-vinyl derivatives of adenosine, 2'-deoxyadenosine and 2',3'-deoxyadenosine starting from the readily available 8-bromo congeners is described. This reaction makes use of a transient silylation procedure and a Pd(0) catalysed cross-coupling with tetraorganotin reagents.